The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-31
HE LOVES HER STILL

1t was a low dark room in one of the
tenements with which the street was
crowded, and upon narrow bed lay
an old man. His eyes were listlessly
closed, aud his long white hair was
dung carelessly back from his high
pale forehead.
As Ailia approached, with her dear
violin grasped tightly in both her small
hands, his eyes opened. and one could
not help but notice the fire vi genius
which shone in their dark luminous
depths,
.sNo one could render that better
than You have, little one, he said
fondly. as he stroked lovingly back the
long dark curls.
Il am glad you were pleased, grand.
father" shs said simply. They were
Italians. the old man and his grand
child.
That they had not always been poor,
was whispered around among the few
who had become acquainted with Sig
nor Paulo, rs he was called. Some
said be was miser and hoarded gold
for tbs child, whose playing, though
she was SO young, was marvellous.
But these surnlises did not trouble the
old man rs he went ont and came in
among them.
There was really no mystery what
ever about his frequent departures. fol-
Signor Paulo was a music-teacher,
and, though not well paid, he had a
small class of scholars. Since he had
lett his native land he had never been
successful. but at last good fortune
seemed to be coming to him.
A wealthy Italian lady became in
terested in him. and learning that he
was of her own country, she engaged
him to take charge of her musical
s0ireeS.
Little Ailia, you shall have new
dress and that fine book of Handel you
have wanted so long" he said glee-
fully to his granddaughter. But the
next day he was stricken down by
fever.
For four weeks he had lain on his
sick bed, old and poor, and all alone,
save for the company of Ailia.
What was to be dGme9
Though still mere child-only thir-
teen-Ailia had woman's mind. All
mconsciously the thoughts and feel
ings which prompted the mastery
strains of the composers she 81 loved
had woven themselves into every tibrs
of her own heart.
Kept as she had been, from early
childhood, from aught that might be
hurtful to her sweet. innocence, Ailia
was still as tPIlStful and unfeafing OF
harm as an infant
So when the pressing thought came,
what should he done to obtain daily
food for her sick grandfather and her
self, she remembered with q glad
thrill his words in praise of her play.
ing.
That afternoon, while the old man
sleptra little figure, wrapped i'll long
scarlet mantle, glided down the steep
stairs.
Ii was a bright sunny afternoon,
and Ailia made her way to fashion
able street, and before stately brown
stone mansion she paused.
Glancing upward, she saw in a lace
draped window some ladies and q
gentleman.
They were not noticing her. Care
fully taking the violin from its case,
she laid her cheek softly down, and
with trembling fingers drew the bow
across the vibrating strings.
The group above suddenly separated,
and the window gently opened.
Why, mamma, exclaimed young
voice, e'it' 5 only d poor little girl, and
she's playing that air of Cherubini's
I've been trying TO learn for a
month";
Hush, Mattel" said another voice.
s.Don't talk amid such music"
Ailia finished. and, lifting her dark
eyes towards the window. she waited.
by Jove! mother there's genius in
that child's playing; and what little
beauty she is. Let's call her in
Before his mother, true type of a
dignitied aristocratie English matron.
could speak, her impulsive son had left
the room, and soon returned, leading
| by the hand the little musician.
Then Ailia played as she had never
played before. Something told her
point of her destiny. .
The tiny child-hands, as they WELD
ed the bow, seemed TO her hearers as if
instinct with power to command the
lurking music in the strings TO dis
close herself,
Before she left the Montrnse man.
sion that afternoon, Ailia had told, in
artless words. her history; and Mrs.
Montrose, won, for the time, quite out
of her usual impassiveness. had urged
her to play at her weekly parties dur
ing the whole of the coming season.
Little Ailia easily paciiied her grand
father when he reproved her for what
she had done, when she told him of her
good fortune.
From beguiling the hours for the
fashionable throng which assembled in
the Montrose drawing-rooms, Ailis
was finally engaged to teach music tC
the young daughter of the house.
A great affection sprang up between
the two girls, both of the same age,
though in such different stations.
| Ailia and her grandfather did moi
live in the crowded tenement any
longer, but had pleasant rooms in 1
quiet street.
Old SignOr Paulo never recovered
enough to leave his bed; but as he fell
the pdHSs VI approaching "Soolu''ON
! he did not feel the depth of anguish a
leaving Ailia that he must have suffer
ed if she had not proved herself so vel
able to care for her own future.
. At first his grandchild sorrowe,
bitterly; but as time went on she fel
! thai il was better as it was, and thai
not for worlds would she. if she could
recall her dear grandfather back to hi:
weary couch Of pain.
Four years had passed; and from 1
slight child Ailia had developed rapid
= ly into the rounded curves of woman
? hood. She was beautiful, with tn
dark clear skin of her Italian parent
age, and the masses OF rayen-blae
hair which waved back from loN
broad forehead. Her great, lustrous
almond-lidded eyes had in them
STRANGE charm and few could look int